NAI Director's Discretionary Fund 2012

Priority in selection for the NAI 2012 DDF will be given to proposals that are characterized by one or more of the following:

* Integrates the research of and realizes synergies among the current NAI teams
* Expands the scope of NAI research (and the NAI community) in innovative ways, accepting some risk in return for high pay-off potential
* Responds in a timely way to new scientific results or programmatic opportunities
* Develops connections between astrobiology research and other NASA science programs, particularly NASA's Earth Science Program - see, http://nasascience.nasa.gov/earth-science
* Directly supports flight programs, particularly through instrument development
* Addresses questions at the intersection of the science of astrobiology and its humanistic aspects, particularly its societal implications;
* Promotes collaborations between US researchers and NAI's international partners;
* Uses funding particularly effectively, for example through leveraging or building on past investments;
* Supports early career investigators

The NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) is accepting proposals to the 2012 NAI Director's Discretionary Fund (DDF).\n\nPriority in selection for the NAI 2012 DDF will be given to proposals that are characterized by one or more of the following:\n\n\t*\tIntegrates the research of and realizes synergies among the current NAI teams\n\t*\tExpands the scope of NAI research (and the NAI community) in innovative ways, accepting some risk in return for high pay-off potential\n\t*\tResponds in a timely way to new scientific results or programmatic opportunities\n\t*\tDevelops connections between astrobiology research and other NASA science programs, particularly NASA's Earth Science Program - see, http://nasascience.nasa.gov/earth-science\n\t*\tDirectly supports flight programs, particularly through instrument development\n\t*\tAddresses questions at the intersection of the science of astrobiology and its humanistic aspects, particularly its societal implications;\n\t*\tPromotes collaborations between US researchers and NAI's international partners;\n\t*\tUses funding particularly effectively, for example through leveraging or building on past investments;\n\t*\tSupports early career investigators\n\nSchedule: Proposals will be accepted at any time until June 30, 2012.\n\nFor more information: http://astrobiology.nasa.gov/nai/funding/ddf-2012